Page 16 of Hostile for the Holidays

Some things?Some things?

Nothing has been done. A surge of disappointment rushes through me.

Decorating for the holidays isn’t behind, it’s not happening at all this year.

Through the empty picture window in the living room, my eyes drift across the street.

The Jensens’ house is lit up tastefully in warm white lights. Their twenty-foot spruce could pass for the Rockefeller Center tree with its large bulbs of multi-color lights. All eight of Santa’s reindeer are poised perfectly on their snowy lawn with Rudolph and his red nose leading the group, pulling a person-sized sleigh that people take pictures in at their Christmas Eve party. That sleigh is the infamous site of Jasper’s and my heated debate about the merits of a real versus artificial Christmas tree.

I’m team real tree, and always will be.

Secretly, I love seeing that familiar reindeer display with Santa’s sleigh.

Their house has always looked picture perfect. It’s another way Jasper and I have competed over the years, and it’s clear that this year he’s winning.

My dad directs me toward the kitchen but before we get there, my sister, Sadie, comes flying toward me.

“Holy shit,” she exclaims in way of greeting. “We heard the news!”

“Language.” My dad attempts a scolding tone, but it comes off more as a question.

Sadie and I are only a year apart. My mom didn’t think she could get pregnant while breastfeeding if she didn’t have her period. A few months later, that myth was busted and she was pregnant with Sadie. Growing up, many people thought we were twins because of how close in age we were.

“Dad, I’m twenty-seven. I can say shit.” She waves him off. “Anyways, this development requires some expletives.”

“What is it?” my dad asks, concern in his voice.

“Stella is dating Jasper!” Sadie squeals again like she can’t quite believe it. I get it, though, because me either.

My dad looks confused. “Jasper?”

“Jasper Jensen!” Sadie erupts for the third time. “What other Jasper is there?”

“I thought you and Jasper didn’t get along?” my dad muses.

“They don’t! They didn’t! But now they’re dating!” Sadie screams excitedly. “Oh my god, Stellie, you have to tell me everything.”

“Let her get settled a minute.” My dad directs us into the kitchen where we find my mom.

“Stella!” My mom wipes her hand on a dish towel, coming around the island in her flour-covered apron to wrap me up in her arms. The moment she’s got her arms around me, my eyes burn with how good it feels.

“Are you making gingerbread?” I ask, sniffing the air but coming up empty.

“No, I’ve decided to make Sadie and Tom’s wedding cake. I’ve been working on different frosting recipes. Do you want to try some?” She motions toward the bowls on the island.

The thought of tasting sugary frosting makes my already sensitive stomach ache.

“Maybe later.”

Daniel is sitting next to Tom, Sadie’s fiancé, at the island scrolling on his phone. He glances up at me and for a split second I feel bad for lying to him, but the alternative, two weeks of awkward flirtatious encounters, is far worse.

“We heard about Jasper.” My mom gives me a secretive smile. It’s one that says she expected it all along and thought our rivalry was some kind of front for our true feelings. What she doesn’t know is that the rivalry between me and Jasper is perfectly intact.

But I need to make sure Daniel thinks otherwise.

“That’s right,” I announce loudly. “Jasper and I are dating. He’s the man of my dreams.”

Sadie laughs because she knows me well and right now, I do sound a bit like a robot.

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